LA CROSSE COUNTY HISTORICAL SKETCHES

Capital Punishment; and the Maine Liquor Law. Some of the questions
were discussed with considerable interest and ability."
     It seems likely that this Lyceum was the precursor of the La
Crosse Library Company, for reasons that will now appear. In the La
Crosse Democrat for December 6, 1853, we find items which show that
the La Crosse Library Company had a threefold purpose, namely to
conduct a library, to sponsor a series of lectures and to arrange for a
series of debates. Regarding the library, we find the following:

     At the' close of the Lyceum exercises of last season, a meeting of the
citizens of La Crosse, favorable to the object, was held at the Court House
for the purpose of adopting measures for the establishment of a Public
Library. The meeting was presided over by the Hon. Timothy Burns; a
library company was formed and regularly incorporated in accordance
with the provisions of the statutes of the state. The community have shown
a considerable interest in the matter, every one manifesting a willingness
to aid in helping it on. Owing to the absence of several members of the
Board of Managers, but little was done during the summer. Recently the
Board have held regular meetings, and are faithfully carrying out the ob-
jects of the association. Several valuable donations of books have been
received, and more have been promised. The Board of Managers, at their
last meeting, voted an appropriation of one hundred dollars, to be spent
in the purchase of books this winter. These books will be placed in the
library at the earliest moment practicable. Thel 'books already in possess-
ion of the association will be immediately prepared for circulation, and
the library will be opened for general use on Saturday of this week. Mem-
bers of the association have the free use of the library. Any individual
can become a member by signing the constitution, and the payment of five
dollars, which payment constitutes the person a shareholder. Certificates
of stock are issued to the members which are transferable. Those who are
not members can take books from the library by the payment of a small
sum for the use of the books. All the residents of the village who have not
connected themselves with the association are invited to do so. The books
of the association are in possession of the Clerk, S. D. Hastings, at his
store, on Front iStreet, where all information in relation to the library can
be obtained.
     The Lyceum which has just started, is a branch of the library associa-
tion. The lectures to be delivered this winter, a notice of which will be
found in this column, are to be delivered before the association, and in
accordance with the provisions of the constitution.
     We know of nothing in our midst more worthy of encouragement
than this library association.

     The announcement concerning the lectures states that they are to
be delivered at the Baptist Church every alternate Friday evening from
December 16th to April 30th. The lecturers judging by the names are
apparently local people, namely, Rev. E. Tasker, C. K. Lord, Esq., Rev.
J. C. Sherwin, Chase E. Stevens, Esq., James I. Lyndes, Esq., D. R.
Wheeler, Esq. It also states that the subjects of the lectures will be
announced in the La Crosse Democrat previous to their delivery.
     In the same issue of the La Crosse Democrat appeared the fol-
lowing:
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